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Lily told them, “She died when I was thirteen. But she was born in France, lived there until she was seven, and then her family relocated to the States. She taught me French and we learned Italian together. She always wanted to go back—she’d never been to Paris. But her family couldn’t afford to return. When she married my father, they started saving for my college and a trip that she and I would make together after I graduated high school.”
Lex felt a drop on his chest. Assumed it was water from her hair. But there was another small splash. And he knew better.
Lily said, “She got sick. Ovarian cancer. The Angelinis paid for her surgery and she recovered. For a while. Then it was stomach cancer. They insisted again. The third time, she swore both my father and me to secrecy. She was already so deeply indebted to the Angelinis for their help that she couldn’t accept anything further from them. And didn’t want to hurt their feelings by refusing their generosity. Plus, it was a late-stage diagnosis. My father was determined to aggressively treat it, though, because the thought of her leaving him was too unbearable for him to accept. That depleted all bank accounts.”
“I’m so sorry,” Lex said, his gut twisting.
“Thank you, but . . . don’t be. That treatment gave her an extra six months beyond her doctors’ predictions. The absolute best six months of my life. Worth every single penny.”
“Jesus,” Jax muttered.
“It’s okay, really.” There was raw emotion in her voice, but she spoke in a steady tone. Well, almost. With a sniffle, she told them, “I started working when I was sixteen so that I could take my own trip. Go to all the places we’d talked about, including Paris. I plan to spend a month there. And I’m taking her ashes with me to scatter.”
Over the top of her head, Lex and Jax exchanged a look in the flickering of flames from the fire. There was just enough light to see that Jax’s eyes had turned darker than normal. And his prominent features were hard-set.
Lex took a deep breath. Then said, “You’ll be the toast of Paris in all those gowns.”
Her head lifted. She stared at him through watery eyes. “I can’t keep all of those, Lex. Just the first one.”
He brushed away a few drops from her cheek. “They’re yours, Lily.”
“Don’t argue,” Jax interjected. “Because then I’ll have to get all broody with you again.”
She let out a small laugh, though tears trickled down her cheeks. Peering over at Jax, she said, “Something tells me that’s going to happen regardless. It seems to be your most common state.”
“Yeah, well . . .” He shrugged.
Lex coaxed her to return her head to his chest. “Just let us give you the gift, Lily.”
“You already gave me gifts this evening. Four times.”
He chuckled. As did Jax.
Lex said, “Just our warm-up act.”
“Mm. Lucky me.”
* * *
Jax felt a curious void the next morning. He was sprawled on his back in his big bed, sans Lily’s warm skin and soft curves pressed against him.
He cracked open an eye. Lex was still asleep, way over on the other side. The middle was empty. And that was where the void came from.
Jax had become addicted to being curled around Lily that quickly?
Are you really so fucking surprised?
One mental flash of her in nothing but glittery sandals and diamonds and he had his answer.
Or, actually, it could have been that very first kiss. Jax had been instantly lost in her. Something that had not happened with any other woman since Katarina.
Gazing at the clock on the nightstand told Jax exactly where Lily had disappeared to—her suite to change and set up for brunch.
He hauled himself up and went into his dressing room. Slipped on shorts and a tank top. Tied his tennis shoes and then smacked Lex on the leg as he passed by the bed.
“We’re missing our workout.” Jax continued on, out of the suite.
While they were pumping iron in the well-equipped fitness center in the lower-level east wing, Jax wondered how Lily would react to them after last night. Would she feel awkward about their situation? About what had happened? Would she still be stressing over losing her job because she’d slept with her bosses?
